CEP Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada

The B.C. Federation of Labour Convention was held in Vancouver from November 20 to December 3 during which the CEP, during discussion of the pay equity issue, introduced an emergency resolution on behalf of telephone operators in Ontario and Quebec.

Rocklee Johns, an Ontario operator, chief steward Monique Martin and myself were asked by the CEP to participate at this convention.

Our first activity was to attend the caucus of CEP convention delegates. We told them of our plans for the convention. The next day, we were given the chance to speak at the Women’s Forum of the B.C. Federation where we told them of our 12 year struggle for justice and provided them with a written chronology of our battle. These delegates enthusiastically endorsed our request for support of our emergency resolution.

Tuesday afternoon, the resolutions committee introduced our emergency resolution and many people spoke to the assembly of some 1,000 delegates. Of special note were the speeches made by Rocklee Johns who explained our case; CEP Western Region Vice President Dave Coles who denounced Bell’s lack of integrity; and, finally Angela Schira, secretary-treasurer of the B.C. Fed, who denounced the injustice we have been facing and inspired the delegates to vote unanimously in favour of our resolution:

WHEREAS Bell Canada was awarded a contract by the Vancouver Olympic Committee for telecommunications services at the 2010 Olympics, at a cost of $200 million; and

WHEREAS Bell Canada has refused to live up to its pay equity commitments for some 5,000 telephone operators; and

WHEREAS the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada has mounted a decade long public campaign and gone to the Canadian Human Rights Commission to obtain justice for Bell operators; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the B.C. Federation of Labour support the demands of the CEP and Bell Canada telephone operators that Bell Canada immediately negotiate a fair pay equity settlement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Federation and affiliated unions contact VANOC and encourage them to support pay equity and justice for Bell workers by making its continued co-operation with Bell contingent upon that company negotiating a just pay equity settlement.

Bell Canada You are investing in the Olympic Games using telephone operators’ money and this is a disgrace.

Bell Canada You have monopolized the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal with viscous tactics developed by your well paid lawyers for years and years and, again, using telephone operators’ money.

Bell Canada You are one of Canada’s richest companies thanks a great deal to your telephone operators.

At the last CEP Convention, our president Brian Payne said in his opening address:

“……no matter how long it takes….no matter how high the costs…..no matter how many dirty tricks Bell uses to delay and frustrate the process….we will maintain the struggle for pay equity until justice is done.”

I want to end this report by telling you that I have never been more proud to be a woman in CEP.